​The successful operation unfolded early in the morning, around 8:30 AM, during a routine vehicle inspection. Law enforcement personnel identified the 23 travelers, all confirmed to be Nigerian nationals of Hausa ethnicity. The group was en route to Burkina Faso.

​Upon being brought to the police station for further questioning, the migrants detailed their journey. They disclosed that they had departed from Tchaki, Nigeria, proceeding on foot and spending the night in Boukouro, a Beninese village situated near the border. Their stated intention was to reach gold panning sites in Burkina Faso in pursuit of gold.

​While initial verifications confirmed that all these travelers possessed valid identification documents, police investigators are actively working to uncover the full circumstances surrounding this journey. Particular scrutiny is being directed towards their companion, a 20-year-old Beninese man. Hailing from Bassila and residing in Parakou, he is currently under suspicion of orchestrating this clandestine movement.

​All individuals apprehended have been transferred to the Tchaourou police station. An ongoing investigation aims to shed light on this case and determine whether an organized network of migrant trafficking is involved.